Hose clamp



D. s. KELLAM March 4, 1958 HOSE CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22,1955 ATTORNEYS March 4, 1958 D. s. KELLAM HOSE CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 22, 1953 .David-i INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United. States p m HOSECLAMP David S. Kellam, Atlanta, Ga. Application December 22, 1953,Serial No. 399,726 3 Claims. (Cl. 251-9) By way of explanation, it mightbe stated that in the use of the conventional hose clamp employed incutting Ofi the flow of water through a fire hose or the like,independently of the hydrant valve, the clamp is frequently operatedwith such force as to render the release of the clamp difiicuit by aperson of normal strength with the resultant loss of time, and making itnecessary to apply unusual force, and frequently to use mechanical meansto operate the lever of the clamp to open the jaws thereof, in releasingthe clamp.

Since the controlling factor in the'value of a clamp of this characterresides in the ease and speed of operation, the loss of time inreleasing the clamp is objectionable.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invenilon to improvegenerally the construction of the hose clamp as embodied in my PatentNumber 2,064,919, issued December 22, 1936, by providing a hose clampwhich may be operated to securely clamp a hose, and at the same time maybe operated to readilyreiease the hose clamp with the minimum amount ofexertion on the part of the operator, when it is desired to resume theflow of water through the hose.

An important object of the invention is the provision of means formoving and locking the movable jaw of the clamp in clamping relationwith the hose, the locking means being actuated simultaneously with theoperation of the lever, in moving the movable relation with thestationary jaw of the clamp.

Still another object of the invention is to provide locking pawls withwhich the operating lever of the hose clamp operates in automaticallymoving the locking means to either its locked or unlocked position, thelocking means being so constructed and arranged that it becomeseffective as the lever moves beyond a predetermined positron.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp wherein thelocking pawls thereof form a continuation of the operating lever,thereby to increase the leverage of the operating lever to the maximum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a hose clamp constructed inaccordance with the invention, illustrating a hose disposed between thejaws of the clamp prior to clamping the hose.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the hos clamp illustrating the positionof the lever and lockin pawls when the jaws are in their lockedpositions.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the clamp.

jaw into clamping 'rce Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the clamp includes a base portion 5which is in the form of an elongated bar of substantially I-beamconstruction, the transverse. bar 6 being formed at one end of the baseto provide a support for the base,.holding the support in an uprightposition, as better shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the forward end of the base 5 has itsupper edge curved downwardly at 7, providing a support for the pivotedjaw 8 which is secured to the forward end of the base 5, by means of thepivot pin 9, which allows the jaw 8 to tilt slightly to properly gripthe hose which is positioned between the jaws of the clamp, the hose inthe present showing being indicated by the reference character A.

This pivoted jaw 8 is formed with spaced flanges that fit over the upperedge of the base 5 at the forward end thereof, as shown by Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

The reference character 10 indicates a bar which is pivotally connectedto the base 5 at 11, the bar being formed with a jaw 12 which overliesthe pivoted'jaw 8 in such a way that when the bar 10 moves towards thebase 5, the jaws 8 and 12 will clamp a hose held therebetween.

Links 13 are pivotally connected to the base 5 at 14 and are disposed onopposite sides of the base 5, the other ends of the links 13 beingpivotally connected to the bar 15 at 16, the bar 15 having its forwardend forked and positioned over the side edges of the jaw 12, as shown byFig. 2 of the drawings, where it is pivotally connected with the jaw 12at 17.

This bar 15 is substantially inverted U-shape to provide a housing forthe lock bar 18, which is pivotally connected to the bar 10'at 19'.

As clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the rear end of the lock bar18 is curved downwardly at 20, theupper edge thereof being formed with apair of rows of substantially short teeth 21 that are extended upwardlyfor contact with the pointed ends 22 of the pawls 23 that are pivotallyconnected between the side walls of the bar 15, at 24. The rear surfacesof the pawls 23 are formed with recesses 25 in which the forward reducedend 26 of the operating lever 27 is disposed, the operating lever beingpivotally connected between walls of the member 5, at 28.

Formed in the upper edge of each pawl 23, is a transversely disposedslot in which one end of a leaf spring- 2? is secured, the opposite endsof said leaf springs be; ing curved and engaged withthe inner surface ofthe member 15, normally urging the pawls towards the barjj 10 so that asthe rear end of the bar 15 swings upwardly,

the pointed ends 22 of the pawls 23 will engage the teeth; 21,associated therewith, locking the bar 18 againstmove.

ment, with the result that the jaws of the clamp securely grip the hosedisposed therebetween.

The forward reduced end 26 of the lever 27 is also formed with a slotwhich is inclined forwardly, into which one end of the spring 30 issecured, the free end of the spring being slightly curved to rub againstthe inner surface of the bottom 15, normally biasing the forward reducedend of the lever 27 downwardly. This spring 30 also provides means forcounterbalancing the weight of the operating lever 27 to hold the samein its upper position as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Extending across the interior of the bar 15, and secured to the sidewalls thereof, is a pin 31 which provides a stop to restrict upwardmovement of the lock bar 18, while pin 32 restricts downward movementthereof.

In operation, the clamp is positioned on a supporting surface, the lever27 being moved to its lowermost position, which results in the openingof the jaws 8 and 12.

the side},

V device.

' -,spondingly,

"2,825,525 I I f 2 tat) * The clamp is now positioned over the hose inanianner as shown by Fig. 1. Upon. movement of the operating lever -27upwardly'to, the position as shown by Fig. 3' of the drawings, the'reduced forward end 26 of the lever will m'ove the pawls 23 over the upperedge of theiock bar lsuntilthe pointed ends thereof engagethe teeth 21,

' Ljsecurely locking the clamp inits clamping position toieut ofi theflow of water through the hose clamped-byjthe Downward movement of lever271will corre through'the action of end 26 on the upper 4 a a connectedadjacent its end with said' upper b'a'raa ae mits jaw,; fulcrum linkspivotally connecting, said channel bar to said base, a lock barpivotally connected at its forward end to said upper bar and extendingrearwardly, one end of the lock bar having teeth formed in the 7 upperedge thereof, an operating lever pivotally' icon-1 nected withthe'channel bar, one end of said operating lever extending forwardlybeyond the pivot pointthereof, a pawl pivotally connected to said'ch'annel'barbesurface ofrecess cause p'awls' 2310 act as a rigid unit fi i with le'verf27 and disengage the pawls 23 from the teeth 21'to'release the clamping effect of jaw 12. Stop pins and 31; limitmovement of the lock bar'18 whereby in the clamping and unclampingmovements, or the; opening of 5. the; jaws, ,the operating lever 27, andchannel bars '15 iv'id ed by links 13:; Owing ltotthe fact that thefteethfliiv are substantially short, it isan easymatter tomovej the leverZ'Z downwardly-, sincethe increased leverage bei tween the forwardreduced en d'26f of the bar' 27 and 7 form arigidlever-mnit' turningabout the, fulcrumjpro-v 5 pawls 23,;will' permit such mover'nent'withthe minimum, amount of exertion onthe part of. the person operating nthe Operating lever 27,- thereby unlocking and; releasing the jawsto'the action of thewater passing through the hose under pressure, whichaction expands the hose' and; forcesjthe jaws open. The clamp may now beremoved.

j Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimedtsz' a 1 1. In ahose clamp, a bas'e, a jaw secured at the forward end ofisaid base, anupper bar pivotally connected to said base ajaw on the forward end ofsaid upper bar cooperating withthe jaw of the base in gripping 'a hose,

eonnectedjtoisaid cha'nrielfba-r, a pawl pivotally'mounted tween saidoperating'lever' and lock bar, means'f'or'ming a" recess in saidpawtengagingthe end; of said operating 'lever to limit the movement'ofsaid operating lever relative to said pawl, said pawl .rele'asablyiengagingj said teeth on said lock bar, guide means for said lock-bar forrestraining the pivotal movement of'said lock bar .up,on

engagement of'said pawl with the teeth of said lock bar",

whereby as said operating'lever is swung upwardly, said lock bar andupper bar ateswung about their respective f said pawl engagi position ona hose.

W 3. 'In a hose elamp, abase, an upper barpivot allycomnected; to saidbase at a point intermedia'te the ends of;

the base, the forward ends of said base and uppenbar being disposedopposite ,to each other, jaws on-saidupper-i 7 bar and base cooperatingin gripping a hose therebe'tween, 1 a channel bar pivotally connectedwith the upper bar adj;

jacent its jaw, fulcrum links pivotally conneetingjthe fver, guide meansfor said within 'said channel; bar, meansforming a recess in said i pawlengaging the'end of said'op'erating leverto-limitthe movement'ofsaidoperating leverrelative 'to said pawl,

said pawl releasably engaging said teeth on said lock ban providing amovableconnection between said operating lever-and lock bar for securingtheupper bar and jaws channel bar with said baselat a point adjacentftothef jaws thereof, a, locking bar pivotally connectedgatits forward; endwith said said channelfbar, teeth formedon the upper: edge-10f said'flock bar, an operating lever pivotally connectedwithithe upper'b'arabove said lock bar,pivoted'pawlsjdisposedbo tween the operatinglever'and. lock'bar in contactwith the/operating lever and lock bar-forefiecting movement V the'upper'jbar against movement, upon upward'movement of.,-said:le 1; lockbar-for restraining theof said upper barsimultaneously) locking pivotal movement of said lock bar uponengagementof said pawls with the teeth of said lockbar,fwhereby-'saidjaws move'into'clampingrelation with a hose disposed.therebetweemand stop means associated with said'pawls a V I limitingdownward movement of said operating lever intheir active'grippingfpositions when said lever and f channel barf are swungupwardly, said-guide meansrastraining.pivotal moyement of said lock baruponeng'age? j 'ment of said pawl with the teeth of said bar, downwardmovement of said lever releasing said pawl from its en-J gagement withsaid teeth'upon- Contact of the end of said i a lever with thestopformedbythe top of said recessfi 1 2. 1In a hose clamp, a base, an upperbarfpivotally; connected to said base, cooperating jawson the forwardends of said base and upper' bar, a channel b arpivotally relative tosaidpa'wls'whereby said operatingilever and? j 7 said pawlsmove asa'unit to disengagesaid pawls from a I said teeth upon downward rnov'ementof said 'operating' lever; V

' References-Citedinthe are? ofthi j UN T STATES PATENTS 1,701,411 I 72,009,907

pivots, clamping a hose between thejaws of the clamp,-

ng said teeth lockingthejawsinaelosed 1 upper barand disposedl within 7Martines 1-.Nav. 12,; 1946i i

